Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-12-08
THIRST IN A CAVERN.
DIR. TALMAGHs SUNDAY SERMON
The Water OF the Well OF Bethlehem,
Which Is by the Gate.

IeAIs NOnt tn0t one tCOut0 0tro me 0Tlfl
Of the t0ater Of the tOeu of Bethlehem, t0hich
q blythe OatsN-S Samuel, xiii, Is.
War, always distressing, Is especially ruin
Gus in harvest time. When the crops are all
ready for the sickle, to have them trodden
down by cavalry horses and heavy supply
trains outlying the fields, Is enough TO make
any mans heart sick. When the last great
war broke out in Europe, and France and
Germany were coming into horrid collision, l
rode across their golden harvests, and saw the
tents pitched, and the trenches dug In the
very midst Of the ripe fields, tho long
scythe Of battle sharpening to NOW
down harvests Of men In great
winrows of the dead. II was at this season
came down upon ethlehem. Hark to the
clamor Of their voices, the neighing of their
chargers, the bare Of their trumpets, and the
clash Of their shieldsl
Let David and his men fall dackl The
Lords host sometimes loses the day.
But David knew where to hide. He
had been brought up in that country.
Boys are inquisitive, and they know all about
theregion where they were born and brought
up. II you should go back to the old home
stead, you could, with your eyes shut, find
your way to the meadow, or the orchard, or
the hill back Of the house, with which you
were familiar thirty or forty years ago. So
David knew the cave of Adullam- Perhaps,
in his boyhood days, he had played "hide-
and-seek" with his comrades all about
the old cave; and though others
might not have known it, David did.
Travellers say there Is only one way of get
ting into that cave, and that Is by a very
narrow path; but David was stout, and
steady headed, and steady-nerved; and So
with he three brave staff-officers, he goes
along that path, finds his way into the cave,
sits down, looks around the roof and the
dark passages Of the mountain, feels very
weary with the forced march, and water he
must have, or die. do not know but there
may have been drops trickling down the side
OF the cavern, or that there may
have been some water in the
goat-skin slung to his girdle; but
that was not what he wanted. He wanted a
deep, full, cold drink. such as a man gets
only out of an old well with moss-covered
bucket. David remembered that very near
that cave Of Adullam there was such well
as that, well to which he used to go in
boyhood-the well of Bethlehem; and he al
most imagines that he can hear the liquid
plash OF that well, and his parched tongue
moves through his hot lips as he says: "Oh,
that one would give me drink Of the water of
the well of Bethlehem. which is by the gate"
1t was no sooner said than DONE The three
brave staff-officers bounded to their feet and
start Brave soldiers will take even hint
from their commander. But between them
and the well lay host of the Philistines: and
what could three men do with a great army!
Yet where there is will there is way, and,
with their swords slashing this way and that,
they make their path to the well. While the
Philistines are amazed at the seeming fool
hardness OF these three men, and cannot
make up their minds exactly what it means,
the three men have como to the we'll
They drop the bucket. They bring
up the water. They pour it in the
pail, and then start for the cave. "Stop
them" cry the Philistines. ''Clip them with
your swordsl Stab them with your spears!
Stop those three menIn Too latei They are
gone around the hill. The hot rocks are
splashed with the Overlooking water from
the vessel ct it is carried up the cliffs. The
three men go along the dangerous path, and
with cheeks flushed with the excitement, and
all out of breath in their haste they fling their
swords, red with the skirmish, to the side Of
the cave, and cry out to David: "There,
Captain of the host, is what you wanted; q
drink of the well Of Bethlehem, which is by
the gate"
a tcAt Is Of no use to me unless can find
Christ in it; and unless I can bring q Gospel
out OF these words, that will arouse and com
fort and bless, shall wish had never seen
them; for your time would be wasted, and
againsN my soul the dark record would be
made that this day stood before great au-
dience Of SHINING, suffering, and dying men,
and told them Of no rescue. By the cross Of
he Son of God, by the throne of the eternal
nde ..nent, that shall not bel May the Lord
.sJegils her, me to tell you the truth to-day!
You know Jis,9t carrier pigeons have some
times letters tied under the wing. and they
nv hundreds OF milestone hundred miles in
an hour-carrying message. So l have
thought would like to have it now. Oh,
heavenly Dovei bring under thy wing
Today, to my soul and to the souls OF this
People, some message OF light, and love, and
peacel
gather around well In summer time The
husbandman puts down his cradle at the well
curb. The builder puts down his trowsl The
traveller puts down his pack. Then one draws
the water for all the rest, himself taking the
very last. The cup is passed around, and
the fires OF thirst are put out; the traveller
starts on his journey and the workman takes
up his burden.
NV friends, we come to-day around the
Gospel WELL We put down our pack Of bur
dens and our implements of toll One mar
must draw the water for those who have
gathered around the well. / will try and
draw the water to-day; and il, after | have
poured out from this living fountain for you
soul, Just taste of it myself, you will not be
grudge me drink from the water Of tn
well OF Bethlehem, which is by the gate. y
This Gospel WELL like the well spoken OF IL
the text, is well Of Bethlehem David hat
known hundreds OF wells Of water, but he
wanted to drink from that particular one
and he thought nothing e0uld slake his thirs
like that. And unless your soul and mine caI
get access to the Fountain open for sin ant
uncleanness we must die. That fountain il
the well of Bethlehem 1t was dug in tn
night. 1t was dug by the light of lanterl
the star that hung down over tn
manger It was dug not at the gate o
CBsars palaces, not in the park OF Jeru
The camel's lifted their weary heads to listel
as the work went on. The shepherds, unabl
to sleep, because the heavens were filled wit
bands of music, came down to see the open
ang of the we'll The angels Of God, at the frs
gush of the living water dipped their challce
Of Joy into it, and drank to the health Q
earth and heaven, as they cried: "Glory t
God in the highest and on earth peace;
Sometimes in our modern barns the water
brought through the pipes Of the city to th
yery nostrils Of the horses or cattle; but thi
well in the Bethlehem barn was not so muc
for the leasts that perish as for our ract
thirst-smittten, ertrtraveled and simooi
struck. Oh, my soul, weary with sin, stoo
down and drink to day out Of that Bethlehel
welll
ssAs the heart panteth after the waite
brooks SO my soul panteth after thee
God.n You would get better understan
ing Of this amidst the Adirondacks in sur
mer-time. Here comes swift-footed dee
The hotlnd@ are close on the track; II n
leaped chasnls and scaled cliffs; it is fagg'
out; its eyes are rolling in dead
ITS tongue Is lolling from its foamir
mouth. Faster the deer, faster the dog
until it plunges into Schroon Lake and Il